Orlando Harmon
National Insurance is a tax paid by most UK workers, and it can be paid alongside Income Tax. The amount of National Insurance you pay depends on how much you earn and whether you are employed or self-employed. To qualify for benefits such as the state pension, you need to have paid National Insurance contributions for a set period. You can check your National Insurance record online by signing in and selecting the option to view your record. This will show you what you've paid and any NI credits received. You can also identify any gaps and see if you can make voluntary contributions to fill them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who pays National Insurance contributions? | Most UK workers pay National Insurance (NI) contributions. Employers also pay NI contributions on their employees' earnings. |
| How to check your contributions | You can check your contributions online by signing in and selecting the option to view your NI record. |
| What information is included in the record? | Your NI record includes what you've paid up to the latest complete tax year and any NI credits received. |
| How do contributions impact state pension? | The amount of state pension you receive depends on the number of qualifying years you've paid or been credited with NI contributions. You need 35 qualifying years to get the full state pension. |
| Can you make voluntary contributions? | Yes, you can make voluntary NI contributions to fill any gaps in your record and preserve your entitlement to the state pension. |
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What You'll Learn
Finding your National Insurance number
In the UK, when you turn 16, you are usually sent a National Insurance number automatically. If you didn't receive one, you can apply by calling the application line on 0800 141 2075. You will be told if you need to prove your identity, which normally involves using photo ID like a passport or driving licence.
If you have lost your National Insurance number, you can usually find it on financial documents such as letters from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) or on wage slips. Your National Insurance number will tell the government how much tax you have paid and how much you will receive through your state pension.
To qualify for benefits such as the state pension, you need to have paid National Insurance contributions for a set period. You can check your National Insurance record online by signing in and selecting the option to view your record. Your record will show what you've paid up to the latest complete tax year, and you'll also see any NI credits received. If some years are not 'full', it means you've missed contributions, and you can check if you can make voluntary contributions to fill gaps.
You can also request a printed National Insurance statement, specifying which years you want your statement to cover.
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Reviewing your contributions
To review your National Insurance contributions, you will need to sign in to your National Insurance account. If you don't have sign-in details, you can create them. You may be asked to prove your identity with photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence. Once you have signed in, select the blue link that says 'View your National Insurance record'.
Your National Insurance record will show what you have paid up to the latest complete tax year, as well as any NI credits received. If any years are not 'full', that means you have missed contributions. You can click 'View details' to see a breakdown and check if you can make voluntary contributions to fill the gaps.
By reviewing your NI record, you can discover potential benefits or identify gaps that, if filled, would enhance your future State Pension. For example, you need 35 years of contributions or credits to get the full state pension when you retire. These don't need to be consecutive years, and you can make voluntary payments that count towards your entitlement.
You can also request a printed National Insurance statement, specifying which years you want your statement to cover.
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Identifying gaps in contributions
To identify gaps in your National Insurance contributions, you can check your National Insurance record. You can sign in online to view your record, and you may be asked to provide proof of identity. You can also request a printed statement of your National Insurance record, which will cover the years you specify (excluding the current and previous tax years).
If you have not received your National Insurance number, you can call the application line or find it on financial documents such as letters from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) or wage slips. If you believe there are errors in your National Insurance record, you can contact HMRC to discuss this.
Gaps in your National Insurance record may impact your eligibility for certain benefits, such as the state pension. To qualify for the state pension, you typically need a minimum of 10 'qualifying years' of National Insurance contributions. You can make voluntary contributions to fill these gaps and preserve your entitlement to certain benefits. However, it is important to first check your eligibility for making voluntary contributions and understand how it may or may not impact your State Pension forecast.
Voluntary contributions can be made by employees and self-employed individuals. As of April 2025, the cost of voluntary 'Class 3' contributions for employees is £17.75 per week, while the cost of voluntary Class 2 National Insurance payments for self-employed workers with low profits is £3.50 per week.
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Voluntary contributions
Voluntary National Insurance contributions are a way to fill gaps in your National Insurance record. Gaps in your record can mean that you do not have enough years of contributions to get a State Pension (you usually need at least 10 'qualifying years').
You may want to make voluntary contributions if you:
- Are close to State Pension age but do not have enough qualifying years to get or increase your State Pension.
- Are self-employed with annual profits of less than £6,845.
- Live outside the UK but want to qualify for certain benefits or the State Pension.
- Are not eligible for National Insurance credits.
There are four different classes of National Insurance contributions, but only Class 2 and Class 3 relate to voluntary contributions. Class 2 contributions are for expats living and working abroad, but only if you worked in the UK immediately before leaving, and you have previously lived in the UK for at least three years in a row or paid at least three years of contributions. The cost of Class 2 contributions for 2023/24 was £3.45 per week (£179.40 per year). Class 3 contributions are for expats living abroad but not working, again with the same conditions as Class 2. The cost of Class 3 contributions for 2023/24 was £17.45 per week (£907.40 per year).
If you are considering making voluntary contributions, the first step is to check your National Insurance record. In most cases, you should not make voluntary contributions if you have more than 35 years already. There is usually a time limit of six years, meaning voluntary contributions must be paid within six years of the end of the tax year to which they relate.
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National Insurance rates
National Insurance (NI) is a tax paid by most UK workers. The amount of National Insurance you pay depends on your employment status and how much you earn. National Insurance rates are different for employers and employees, and these rates are distinct from those paid by self-employed workers.
The main (Class 1) National Insurance rate paid by employees is 8% on income of £12,570 to £50,270 a year (£1,048 to £4,189 a month). A worker earning £35,000 per year can expect to pay £1,794 in Class 1 NICs. The NICs rate is 2% for any income over £50,270 a year (over £4,189 a month). So, an employee earning a £55,000 per year salary will pay 8% NICs on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, 2% on earnings above that, paying £3,110 NICs per year in total.
If you are self-employed, your National Insurance contributions are calculated using your annual profits. Previously, you paid Class 2 National Insurance contributions at £3.45 a week if your self-employed profits were £12,570 or more. But from 6 April 2024, those with profits above £12,570 aren't required to pay Class 2 National Insurance. When it comes to Class 4 National Insurance contributions, you pay 6% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270 and 2% on profits above £50,270.
As of April 2025, the cost of voluntary ‘Class 3’ contributions for employees is frozen at £17.75 a week. For self-employed workers whose profits aren’t high enough to necessitate National Insurance contributions, the cost of voluntary Class 2 National Insurance payments is £3.50 per week.
You can check how much you've paid in National Insurance online, using the government website. HMRC will let you know how much National Insurance is due after you've filed your Self Assessment tax return. You can also apply to HMRC to check your National Insurance record and claim a refund if you think you've overpaid.
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Frequently asked questions
You can check your National Insurance record online by signing in and selecting the 'View your National Insurance record' option.
You will need to create sign-in details if you do not already have them. You may also need to prove your identity with photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence.
Your record will show what you have paid up to the latest complete tax year. You will also see any NI credits received and any years that are not 'full', indicating missed contributions.
You can make voluntary contributions to fill gaps in your National Insurance record. This may be beneficial if you want to increase your pension entitlement.
As of April 2025, the cost of voluntary 'Class 3' contributions for employees is £17.75 a week. For self-employed workers, the cost of voluntary 'Class 2' contributions is £3.50 per week.
